Mobile data technology in the food industry

For more than fifteen years CASIO is active in the mobile data collection market and has helped well-known customers in transportation, retail, public transport and the food and beverage industry to make their daily work more efficient. CASIO not only produces small, innovative and robust hardware but is also well known for reliable project development and excellent customer service.

In the food and beverage industry the secure collection of data is very essential. It can be the collection of barcoded data to guarantee a smooth flow of the supply chain, the data collection of the field force staff or the mobile sales activities directly at the customers' site only to name a few. Mobile technology can help in almost all segments to sharpen business activities, make them more secure and effective or save time and costs. Here is an example:

IT-3100: All-in-one for delivery and mobile sales

To expand its customer service in a customer-oriented manner, Brau Union Österreich AG has equipped over 300 delivery vehicles at 34 sales storage sites throughout the country with the CASIO IT-3000. Modern hand-held computers with integrated receipt printers and mobile goods management as well as information system help to reduce the administrative work required in everyday business, along with the wide variety of possible error sources this brings with it. By optimizing the business processes, the customer satisfaction was increased and the economic viability of the delivery service significantly improved.

At the end of 2004, the company's board of directors set the course for the development of an "on-board computer system" in order to improve delivery logistics and to develop a practice-oriented solution. Goals were defined and a project team was made up of specialist and experts from the field of logistics, finance and the food industry.

General manager Dr. Markus Liebl states: "Our primary goals in addition to the economic aspects were the

• Introduction of future-oriented technology for carrying out day-to-day work in the field of logistics
• Improvement of the affected business processes and increased customer satisfaction through optimized invoice procedures
• Image improvement in the market through an innovative solution
• Integration of new front-end applications in existing IT systems
• Minimization of costs through efficient work processes and technology and the reduction of possible error sources during administrative activities."

"Our customers and partners judge us on the quality of our services" states Helmut Weigl, responsible for logistics organization at Brau Union Österreich AG and offers a simplified outline of the situation at the start of the project: "Our drivers at sales storage sites distributed all over the country received a pile of orders at the start of the day, took their delivery van with the drinks, and went on their way. While delivering to customers, they noted any deviations in delivery quantities by hand and picked up empty bottles. At the end of the trip, a check was carried out and the bottles were counted. The hand-written notes were passed on to the office employees, who entered the information into the software, where it was then used to create invoices"

The initial situation had much room for improvement. Adding information manually to customer receipts during delivery leads to

• Increased work in the preparation of the receipts
• Increased difficulty in handling for drivers due to the large number of receipts
• Calculation errors for cash payments (quantity corrections)
• Subsequent entry and checking
• Correction of errors in manual entries
• Archiving of receipts
• Receipts difficult to read due to manual entries
• Customer receipts unclear and difficult to understand.

Following a review of the target processes, a requirement specification was created and a call for tenders issued which was taken part in by several bidders. The multifunctional terminal Casio IT-3000 fulfilled the specifications of the project team exactly.

Now a few years later CASIO presents the successor of the IT-3000.

IT-3100 features a built-in high speed thermal printer capable of printing up to 28 lines per second. It runs on the Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 operating system for easy software development and integration into the enterprise. Its sturdy construction enables it to withstand drops from a height of up to 1.2 meters to concrete and the IP54 level sealing allows it to be used in dusty and wet environments. With Bluetooth and IrDA both integrated as standard as well as a PC card slot for optional use of wireless LAN and wireless WAN cards, a wide selection of wireless communication methods can be used. Models with magnetic card reader for credit card payment allow the usage as a mobile sales device for direct deliveries. The IT-3100 is also available with an integrated CMOS imager for the collection of 1D and 2D barcodes.

IT-800: Secure data collection and communication

In areas where an all-integrated solution is not obligatory CASIO can offer alternative devices for all kinds of applications. The IT-800 for example is the ideal device for sales and field employees in the food industry to perform price research in retail shops or to collect customer information and orders. With its compact design, low weight and communication functions the small PDA can replace a laptop and mobile phone and make mobile work more efficient.

IT-800 can gather information by scanning 1D or 2D barcodes, take images with the PDA's built in digital camera, read Smart Cards and transfer the GPS location information. Navigation solutions are also possible. The new PDA comes with numerous security features such as a login verification system that uses the contactless Smart Card reader. It can be configured to erase all data if the terminal gets stolen or lost. In this case of loss or theft the data would be secured from misuse.

The new IT-800 PDA runs on the new operating system Microsoft® Windows® Mobile 6.5, weighs under 350 grams and is equipped with a 9.4 cm VGA screen which is, due to a by CASIO newly invented technology, about ten times more shock resistant than standard displays. Developed using the ISO 13407 human-centered design processes, the new PDA is easy to hold and to operate. It is IP54-rated dust/splash proof and can withstand drops on concrete from a height of 1.5 meters. It operates at temperatures down to -20 ºC and is suitable for an all-season outdoor use, even on hot, cold or rainy days.